Chapter 2

The second the truth hit, I crumbled.

Everything went dark. Hope? Gone.

I stood outside the door, lips shaking, but no sound came—just tears.

Zachary's words cut deep, like a thousand stabs, stealing my breath.

My chest burned, then went cold.

I kept seeing him that morning, kissing my cheek like nothing was wrong.

Saying he couldn't live without me. Pressing my hand to his chest like his heart only beat for me.

But it was all fake.

When I got home, I still held on, thinking it was some stupid mix-up.

Then he said it—he couldn't live without both me and Cathryn.

That's when it clicked. Zachary didn't fall for one woman. He fell for two.

And he never planned to choose. He just wanted his childhood sweetheart and his side piece.

Our "wedding"? Just a private show.

The real marriage certificate? It had her name.

I wasn't his wife. I was just the other woman.

What a twisted game he played.

So this was the love behind all those sweet vows?

I remembered when Zachary climbed that huge tree just to pick me apples. Fell, broke both legs, still handed me one with a smile.

"Sierra, don't cry. If you eat it, it won't hurt anymore."

On my sixteenth birthday, he waited all night in the freezing cold, just so he'd be the first to give me the gift.

"Happy birthday, Sierra."

At my coming-of-age ceremony, he rented out the entire town square. Had drones spell out a message in the sky. Got down on one knee, holding flowers.

"Sierra, when you turn twenty, let's get married, okay?"

The day I flew overseas for college, he hugged me tight, eyes red, voice shaking.

"If you're not back in two years, I'm flying out to kidnap you."

After that, we FaceTimed every day.

One time, I got swamped with school and missed his call.

Ethan sent me a clip—Zachary, wasted, getting patched up in the ER.

He was lying there, broken.

"Sierra, I love you. I can't live without you."

I was so freaked out, I booked the next flight home.

Wanted to surprise him, so I kept quiet.

But when I opened his office door... he was kissing a girl who looked just like me.

I ran, crying, and he chased me for blocks.

Called nonstop. When I ignored him, the texts kept coming.

When I shut him out, he camped outside my place for three days, begging. "Sierra, I was drunk—I thought she was you.

"I missed you so much, I found someone who looked like you.

"I swear, it was just a kiss. Nothing else.

"I screwed up. But I love you so much, I saw you in her."

When he finally collapsed, weak and refusing to leave, I broke.

And I forgave him.

After that, things went back to normal—at least, that's what I told myself.

But once we got married, I noticed his assistant had changed.

Cathryn was back, even though she'd quit ages ago.

I was pissed. He smoothed it over.

"Her parents died. No degree. She had nowhere to go. She reapplied like everyone else. I couldn't just turn her away."

I let it slide. Because I loved him.

But all that patience? It just made me the idiot.

The side chick in a fake marriage.

I gave him everything—

And he left me with scars and a heart that'll never be whole again.